Ways Summer Can Make You Sick from These Are the Ways Summer Can Make You Sick

These Are the Ways Summer Can Make You Sick

Ways Summer Can Make You Sick

We get it — summer is great. It’s a time for enjoyment, for laughter-filled summer nights, for spending time outdoors exploring. Your health, and all the ways you could be risking it by soaking up the sun and taking spontaneous adventures, might be the farthest thing from your mind. Some of the ways summer affects your body are obvious. You sweat more and you get sleepy in the sun, for example. But summer makes you sick in some other ways that you might not expect.

Alcohol

Barbecues, holidays, and summer parties can be a blast, but they all involve one thing that seriously messes with your health: alcohol. Drinking, especially when you drink under direct sunlight, can be dangerous. Too many alcoholic drinks can cause long-term health effects — not to mention the dehydration and hangovers it can cause. Alternating drinks with glasses of water can be helpful, both to pace yourself and make sure you don’t get too dehydrated.

Heat Exhaustion

There’s a difference between feeling a little warm and getting heat exhaustion — but the extreme conditions of summer should be taken seriously. Heat exhaustion poses an extra threat under conditions of high humidity and intense physical activity. Watch out for symptoms of heat exhaustion such as dizziness, fainting, muscle cramps, and nausea. These symptoms might seem small, but even the most benign-seeming symptoms could signal something serious!

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Mosquitos

Mosquitos and mosquito bites may feel like nothing more than a nuisance. But in some cases, they can pose a real threat to your health. Insects carry disease, and mosquitos in particular have been known to spread illnesses such as Zika or dengue. But even if the mosquito that bit you is disease-free, your bite could get infected. Avoid scratching, since you could rip the skin and expose yourself to the germs hiding under your fingernails.

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Ocean Water

Going for a swim at the beach is a great way to cool off and get some exercise. But the water could actually make you sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 140 outbreaks of infections from norovirus, E. coli, and other pathogens linked to untreated bodies of water from 2000 to 2014. Of these outbreaks, ocean water was responsible for 32 percent. To prevent getting sick, inhale as little water through your nose as possible and don’t let any get in your mouth. You may also want to avoid water that looks especially foamy, smells bad, or is an unusual color.

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Skin Rash

When you think of protecting your skin in summer, you might think of sunscreen and stop there. But there are other hazards that could pose a risk to your skin this season. Rashes are especially common in the summer due to all the time spent in high-heat conditions and in the pool. If you don’t shower directly after swimming in the pool, for instance, it could have scary side effects that show on your skin. High temperatures can also induce heat rash. Support your skin as best you can by eating these foods with the nutrients your skin needs.

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Sand

There’s nothing better than the feeling of sand between your toes — unless, of course, that sand has hidden shards of glass and other hazards. Walking barefoot in the sand can be tricky, since it’s hard to see what’s sitting beneath the surface. Sticking to beaches that are cleaned regularly can help, as can wearing shoes when walking long distances in the sand.